Chapter 602 Confession
"My lord." The eldest grandfather of the Qi family trembled as he stood up. If it weren't for the village and the Qi clan, the eldest grandfather would never have dared to speak.
But now that it had come to this, the eldest grandfather, despite his fear and unease, still braced himself to make excuses for Qi Changlin. "Reporting to my lord, according to what this young man Shi said, the person lying on the bed is a corpse. Changlin did not kill anyone."
A group of villagers, standing in the courtyard with their ears pricked, breathed a sigh of relief when they realized what was happening. In recent years, the village had only produced one scholar, and ever since Qi Changlin had achieved his academic success, the village had taken good care of the Qi family.
Especially Qi Changlin's relatives and neighbors. They would offer a bowl of meat and vegetables to the Qi family whenever they cooked, all in an effort to get closer and hope for future favors from Qi Changlin.
If Qi Changlin became a murderer, all their efforts over the past few years would be in vain. Moreover, if their village produced a murderer, it would affect the marriages of the younger generation in the future.
Lord Wei, who was recording, paused and glanced at Prefect Jiao seated above. Qi Changlin's future now rested on Prefect Jiao's decision.
However, given Qi Changlin's relationship with Jiao Lianyu and the Prefect's appreciation for talent, Lord Wei estimated that Qi Changlin would be able to escape this disaster.
"This official is aware of what the elder said." Prefect Jiao raised his hand, signaling the Qi family's eldest grandfather to sit down. He did not give a clear answer to his words but changed the subject. "Someone, bring Madam Qi here."
The words of Qiu Huaixin and Shi Song could explain why someone wearing Qiu Huaixin's outer garment appeared on the bed in the guest room. However, there was still one point that was unclear: Madam Qi knew that guests were being entertained at home and that Qiu Huaixin was resting in the guest room after drinking, so why did she go to the guest room herself?
The village head glanced at the two women at the door. One of them was the village head's wife, and the other was Qi family's daughter-in-law, who was Qi Changlin's grand-aunt in terms of seniority. It was appropriate for these two to bring Madam Qi to answer questions.
While waiting, Constable Liu suddenly strode in, bowed to Prefect Jiao, and then walked over. He leaned in and whispered to Prefect Jiao, "My lord, this subordinate has just questioned the villagers, and they said..."
Prefect Jiao frowned, signaled Lord Wei to come forward, and then asked Constable Liu, "Was there any noise in the guest room at the time?"
"Yes, the reason the villagers discovered something was wrong was because there was noise in the room, and the second young master and the others were on their way to the medical clinic." Constable Liu had questioned several villagers, and their testimonies were consistent.
The sounds of intimacy coming from the room were what alerted the villagers. Otherwise, they would not have dared to intrude into the guest room where distinguished guests were resting.
Lord Wei's expression changed when he heard this. After pondering for a while, he said, "Madam Qi's clothes were disheveled, and there were marks of intimacy on her neck?"
According to the third young master Qiu's account, the person lying on the bed was a corpse. How could there be sounds? Even if the person was not dead, this was an assassin. If they were conscious, they would have left immediately. How could a lustful person have taken liberties with the unconscious Madam Qi?
Waving Constable Liu away, Prefect Jiao and Lord Wei exchanged glances. Regardless of how many people were involved in this scheme, one thing was certain: moving Madam Qi to the guest room bed, leaving these marks on her, and deliberately making sounds of intimacy to attract the villagers' attention, all of this was aimed at calculating against Qiu Huaixin, to ruin his reputation.
"My lord, the mastermind behind this probably didn't expect that the person lying on the guest room bed wasn't the third young master Qiu." Lord Wei glanced at Qiu Huaixin, who was sitting below with a relaxed expression. It was rumored in Qianzhong Prefecture that Lord Qiu's youngest son was also a spoiled dandy from an official family, yet he didn't even have any academic achievements.
But Lord Wei had to admit that a tiger father begets a tiger son. Qiu Huaixin's ability to feign death and escape was definitely a sign of his shrewdness, at least not as decadent as the rumors suggested.
"Whether he knew beforehand or realized it when it happened, he shouldn't have involved an innocent woman." Prefect Jiao's face darkened. As things stood, no matter which side was calculating, the most innocent was Madam Qi, whose reputation had been tarnished.
Even if there was a corpse on the bed, gossip could kill. The villagers' gossip could have driven Madam Qi to her death, otherwise, she wouldn't have hanged herself after regaining consciousness. m..oΓg
Prefect Jiao and Lord Wei's hushed conversation was not clearly heard by the few people sitting in the main hall below. The Qi family's eldest grandfather and the village head only had one thought: to clear Qi Changlin's name. As for Madam Qi's life or death, neither of them paid any attention. In the end, she was just a village woman.
"Young master, have some tea." Shi Song handed a cup of tea to Qiu Huaixin. The third young master had drunk a lot of wine at noon and then endured the cold wind in the mountains for a while. Seeing Qiu Huaixin's pale face, Shi Song worried that he might have caught a cold.
The hot tea could not dispel the coldness on Qiu Huaixin's face. He had narrowly escaped the danger, but it also proved that someone was indeed targeting him, wanting to ruin his reputation so that he could not marry the fifth daughter of the Gu family. And this mastermind was from the Wu family, and it was very likely his elder sister-in-law.
Qiu Huaixin tightened his grip on the teacup. When Zhan Feiyu had said it, he had thought it was nonsense. As expected of someone who had achieved the triple crown, his perception was so sharp. It was likely that even his elder brother and father hadn't suspected that his elder sister-in-law was the mastermind behind the repeated attacks on him.
Madam Qi, supported by two women, finally appeared in the main hall. Her face was ashen as she knelt on the ground, with red marks on her neck from the rope used for hanging. If she had been even a moment slower, she would have really hanged herself.
"Madam Qi, this official asks you why you were in the guest room. Did you do it yourself or were you coerced?" Prefect Jiao's expression was stern and authoritative, but Lord Wei, who knew him well, could tell from Prefect Jiao's question that he wanted to excuse Madam Qi and give her a way out.
If Madam Qi had been knocked unconscious and thrown onto the bed, she would also be a victim. Moreover, the person lying on the bed was just a corpse. Although Madam Qi's reputation was still tarnished, the extent of the damage was much less.
Coupled with Qi Changlin's impulsive act of stabbing the "adulterer" with scissors in anger, it showed that he was also loyal and righteous. Even if they divorced later, with a little care from Qi Changlin, Madam Qi would have a way to live in the village.
Madam Qi stared blankly at Qi Changlin kneeling beside her, looking at the dried bloodstains on his robes. Thinking of how he had dared to kill the third young master Qiu for her in a fit of rage, tears welled up in her eyes. To have met such a good man, what more could she ask for?
"My dear, don't be afraid. Just answer whatever the lord asks," Qi Changlin said with a hoarse voice. Looking at his wife, whose eyes had lost their luster, his heart ached, and he couldn't help but resent Qiu Huaixin, who was sitting beside him.
Since he could avoid the scheme, why did he let his wife be defiled?
He thought he had a friend he could trust with his life, but at this moment, Qi Changlin realized that in the eyes of the third young master Qiu, he, a poor scholar, was just a clown. That was why he was so heartless and cruel, allowing his wife to be schemed against, framed, and humiliated.
Madam Qi remained silent for a long time, then finally looked up at Prefect Jiao, who was seated above. "As things stand, this humble woman has lost her chastity. I implore my lord to clear my husband's name. This humble woman has no regrets even if she dies."
As her voice fell, Madam Qi, kneeling on the ground, kowtowed heavily. Her emaciated body collapsed on the ground. Thinking of Madam Qi's words, the women outside the main hall were all in tears. They didn't understand the men's schemes, but they knew Madam Qi's innocence and pain.
Qiu Huaixin's expression was cold. If he had felt some pity before, he now had reservations when he thought of how his sister-in-law, Madam Wu, could be so ruthless in scheming against him. He was wary of women's weakness and tears, believing that people's hearts are unfathomable, and even a frail woman could have the most venomous heart!
Prefect Jiao looked at Madam Qi, who was still in a kowtowing posture, and sighed. Knowing Qi Changlin well, Prefect Jiao also knew the difficulties Madam Qi faced. She took care of her paralyzed mother-in-law, raised two children, managed the fields, and attended to Qi Changlin's daily needs. Yet, such a virtuous and filial wife was now driven to desperation.
"Madam Qi, please rise for now..." Prefect Jiao's words were interrupted as his expression suddenly changed. He stood up abruptly, only to see a small pool of blood slowly spreading from beneath Madam Qi.
The main hall was thrown into chaos again. The village's barefoot doctor was still there. Only now did everyone realize that before coming to the main hall to answer questions, Madam Qi had stabbed herself in the chest with a hammer. She had just used the action of kowtowing to pull out the awl that was stuck in her chest, and the blood then flowed out of the wound.
"My dear, why were you so foolish?" Qi Changlin hugged the weak Madam Qi, his eyes red. But looking at her chest, which was gradually being stained red by blood, Qi Changlin knew that even if a miraculous doctor were present, they couldn't save her.
"Husband..." Her breath was weak. Madam Qi's cold hand grasped Qi Changlin's hand, and she smiled silently. "To have married you... I have no regrets even in death..."
After saying this with difficulty, Madam Qi's body convulsed in pain twice. She gathered the last bit of her strength, flipped her body, and fell to the ground. At this moment, she was facing Qiu Huaixin.
"This humble woman's life is cheap... I beg the noble sir to spare... spare my husband..." Madam Qi reached out towards Qiu Huaixin, as if trying to grab his robe to beg for mercy, but her outstretched hand finally fell limply, and her last breath was gone.
Qiu Huaixin was completely stunned. He had been thinking about his sister-in-law, Madam Wu. As for why Madam Qi was on the bed in the guest room, Qiu Huaixin did know, so he couldn't feel any sympathy for her.
But looking at Madam Qi, who had schemed against him even in death, Qiu Huaixin stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with rage. What did she mean by asking him to spare Qi Changlin?
From beginning to end, he was the one being schemed against. The wine he drank at noon had a problem, and this wine came from the Qi family. He hadn't even pursued the responsibility of Qi Changlin and Madam Qi, and now he was being accused of forcing an innocent woman to her death?
(End of chapter)